Era of Heroic Spirits: I Was Exposed by Alaya

Fuyuki Magecraft Academy.

Merlin couldn't help but sigh in admiration. "Truly worthy of being the First Emperor of the ages."

The contrast was absurdly exaggerated.

In other Singularities, the manifestations were at most confined to a small local nation.

But when it came to Qin Shi Huang, he directly mobilized troops to conquer the entire world, aiming to bring the entire planet under his dominion.

And now, he wasn't even willing to spare the other Lostbelts, planning to deploy armies to invade them!

Now we finally understand why, despite the threat from the Council of Gods, Qin Shi Huang insisted on having China and the entire world watch the video before responding to the Council of Gods.

This was his confidence!

Before the king of a Lostbelt whose domain spanned the entire world, reigning supreme over the globe—what did the so-called gods of the Council of Gods even amount to?

"Hmph, nothing special. No matter how vast your territory is, it's useless."

Tamamo-no-Mae snorted coldly.

Truly the wisdom of mortals, obsessed only with seizing land.

Even if you ruled the entire world, before her, with all nine tails gathered, it would be utterly meaningless.

She'd still beat you down mercilessly!

Under her gaze...

In the video.

Her alter ego, Koyanskaya, continued, "Your Majesty, I have always acted for the stability of Great Qin. Does Your Majesty not trust me, but instead trust Chaldea?"

"This emperor trusts no one! In my eyes, Chaldea holds far greater value than you!" Qin Shi Huang replied indifferently.

"???"

Koyanskaya was stunned, about to retort when—

Qin Shi Huang continued, "The time-travel vehicle Chaldea possesses is of immense significance to me. If you wish to negotiate with me, show greater sincerity than Chaldea—Gao Liang Chihuahua!"

The tactics of an emperor!

Yet another imperial stratagem.

"It's Koyanskaya! Your Majesty, are you deliberately mispronouncing my name?"

Koyanskaya glared at him furiously.

Before this domineering Qin Shi Huang, she couldn't maintain her composure any longer.

Faced with her anger, he only laughed. "Haha, if it displeases you, then I shall address you by your true name—the nine-tailed fox, Daji!"

True Name Revelation!

Her real identity had been exposed outright by him.

Koyanskaya froze in panic.

She had traversed human history, passing through one Lostbelt after another, yet this man had seen through her in an instant.

Countless viewers erupted in frenzied comments: "Qin Shi Huang is OP!" "The fox spirit is terrified!"

Realizing the danger, Koyanskaya immediately prepared to retreat—

Only to find the Captain of the Guard blocking her path.

Boom!

A single devastating punch from him left her no room to resist.

Under the Captain's overwhelming assault, the fox spirit, who had been gleefully stirring chaos, was swiftly captured.

Captain Li Dashi sneered. "A mere fox spirit—did you really think this was still a land trampled by foreign powers? This is the Great Qin Empire!"

"Hmph, you underestimate my deductive abilities. I can even foresee the future!"

Qin Shi Huang remained unperturbed. "By my decree, you shall be sealed for eternity!"

Hum~

Countless radiant runes blazed to life, transforming into an array of forbidden spells imbued with the divine power of Penglai's immortal arts, sealing her completely.

Witnessing this scene...

Merlin looked at the fox spirit beside him with a strange expression. "What do you make of this?"

A mere fox spirit truly thought she could keep hiding from Qin Shi Huang indefinitely.

That emperor indeed lacked Clairvoyance, but his deduction abilities seemed to rival—no, surpass her Clairvoyance, allowing him to directly deduce the future!

"Hmph, this is just a minor account of mine. Once I log into my main, I'll easily suppress him!" Tamamo-no-Mae gritted her teeth.

This was utterly humiliating.

The whole world had witnessed her disgraceful performance!

But it didn't matter.

This was merely a minor vessel with a fraction of her power. Once her true form made its appearance, she would effortlessly crush both Qin Shi Huang and Nameless beneath her feet, showcasing the majesty of a nine-tailed fox!

"Uh…"

Merlin watched her, sensing that this would inevitably lead to even more brutal face-slapping later.

Unfortunately, Merlin lacked the Clairvoyance of the King of Heroes or King Solomon to foresee the future.

He could only patiently continue observing.

The scene shifted to Chaldea.

Xiang Yu, who had been battling Heracles, suddenly halted.

The Hegemon-King of Western Chu declared, "Hmph, mere outsiders. I've gathered sufficient data and can now proceed with military deliberations."

Without hesitation, he turned and departed.

Despite possessing overwhelming power, he showed no intention of fighting to the end.

Just as the Chaldea team stood bewildered, a voice as vast as a deity's poured down from the heavens—

[Outlanders from another time and space, raise your eyes to the firmament. We have been watching you all along.]

Da Vinci stared in shock at the sky, where only that peculiar floating structure was visible. "Could that thing in orbit be what you call the Great Wall?"

[The Great Wall? The one built to repel the Xiongnu? chuckles Mere Xiongnu were eradicated long ago. The only foes We must defend against come from the cosmos!]

[That construct required three full centuries to complete, even with the Qin Empire's unparalleled architectural prowess!]

[To be precise—131,224 li. But that's too cumbersome, so We shall simply call it the Wall.]

In that moment.

Countless spectators and Nameless's speculations were confirmed by Qin Shi Huang's own words.

That mythical structure encircling the planet was indeed the Great Wall of Qin!

Nameless gazed upward at the Wall. "So, what do you want from us?"

[Simple. Hand over your vehicle for Our study. Once examined, it shall be returned, along with that 'Koyanskaya' you seek.]

[Moreover, you shall receive state guest treatment in Great Qin, safeguarded under Our protection from all threats!]

The emperor's voice cascaded from the heavens.

This Lostbelt held no other adversaries.

All had long been subdued by Qin Shi Huang.

Even Koyanskaya, whom Chaldea pursued, had been captured by the emperor's own hand!

Da Vinci spread his hands and laughed, "Well, it seems there aren't any other options. We should agree to their terms and capture that cunning fox. What do you think, Master?"

"Good, agreed!" Nameless answered loudly.

Since they wanted to get closer to the other party, this was naturally the most appropriate method.

[Wise choice! Qin Liangyu will accompany you. You may ask her anything. Do you have any other questions for Us?]

Da Vinci asked curiously, "Speaking of which, shouldn't someone else handle such negotiations? Why is Your Majesty personally involved?"

[Hah, in your world, are there only rulers who reveal flaws the moment they appear?]

[Does the sun fear the gaze of mortals? Does the moon hide its form?]

[We are the Son of Heaven, reigning supreme over all the world and its beings. Naturally, We shall let all gaze upon Us!]

An utterly domineering declaration.

This Qin Shi Huang disdained any form of concealment—everything was direct, open confrontation.

Da Vinci grew even more astonished: "So... can we see Your Majesty's face?"

[Hm? Have you not been looking at Us all along?]

"Eh? All along?" Mash was startled.

[Well, that massive mechanical bird-like existence floating above Xianyang City.]

Both Mash and Da Vinci were stunned: "What? That's actually you?"

That colossal structure resembling a cosmic battleship was actually his body?

Facing their shock, Qin Shi Huang continued—

"Why the surprise? We have cast aside this flesh destined for decay and replaced it with an eternal, indestructible mechanical divine body, one that shall expand alongside the territories of Great Qin."

"We are the first and the ultimate emperor. The absolute, undying sovereign who eternally pacifies heaven and earth—Qin Shi Huang!"

The phoenix hovered above Xianyang City.

Qin Shi Huang's majestic form would forever be admired by all living beings.

Like the sun, imprinted upon the sight of all!

The onlookers were instantly stunned—

-[The flesh is weak, but the machine ascends! Qin Shi Huang has achieved mechanical ascension!]

-[Holy shit, so that's why he never appeared—that floating battleship in the sky is his true body!]

-[The fox spirit offered him an elixir of immortality, but he chose this path instead. Truly, only he would do something like this!]

-[Are you kidding? A mere immortal body can't compare to a battleship like this!]

-[Ahem, I suddenly have a question: when it rains, does that mean we all get to watch Qin Shi Huang take a bath?]

-[Outdoors, rain, exposure, spectators… I have a friend who wants a doujinshi of this!]

...

Meanwhile, in the real Epang Palace.

Heroic Spirits like Zhuge Liang suddenly felt a wave of trepidation upon witnessing this scene.

It wasn't until they saw the exposed footage from [Alaya] that they realized the Epang Palace beneath their feet was actually His Majesty's body?

Walking in and out of the palace halls every day meant they had been moving about inside His Majesty's body…

This… this was utter blasphemy!

The group of Heroic Spirits felt their scalps tingle, struck by a sense of impending doom.

Yet.

Qin Shi Huang didn't even glance at them, his gaze fixed blankly on the screen.

In his mind, a memory from his childhood resurfaced—

Back then, he had once asked Nameless: "Teacher, how can one achieve immortality?"

"All men must die. But after hundreds or thousands of years, when flesh perishes and souls vanish, the people living on this land will remember your name, and history books will preserve your legacy."

Nameless smiled gently as he replied: "Even if the Qin dynasty disappears completely, even when bones turn to dust, you will live forever in history. Because you are the first, and the only Qin Shi Huang!"

A profoundly romantic answer indeed.

To achieve immortality in people's memories could be considered another form of survival.

Yet, this could never grant him true life.

After bidding farewell to deities and parting with his mentor, Qin Shi Huang obtained the elixir of immortality offered by fox spirits and uncovered technologies left behind by the Shang dynasty.

At last, he discovered genuine eternal life.

"I've learned one thing from my brief human existence. The more one schemes, the more one realizes human limitations—unless one transcends humanity!"

Qin Shi Huang gazed at the machinery before him, declaring: "Therefore, I shall cease being human, Master!"

Thus, he chose to abandon his mortal form, achieving the unimaginable—mechanical ascension.

Establishing the Eternal Empire within the Lostbelt!

Indeed, Qin Shi Huang sought to create the utopian era of peace and prosperity that existed only in his mentor's imagination.

To perpetuate peace forever.

Alas, his methods remained somewhat problematic...

The video continued.

After their conversation with Qin Shi Huang concluded, the Nameless One and his companions returned to the village.

Preparing to rest briefly before setting out for Xianyang under Qin Liangyu's guidance.

Through discussions with Qin Liangyu, Da Vinci learned numerous astonishing truths.

"This is a world completely devoid of war. Qin Shi Huang's mechanical legions have long since eradicated all enemies!"

She couldn't help exclaiming: "A truly peaceful world, transcending democracy and religion, integrating all people—could this really be possible?"

No matter how she imagined it, she couldn't believe such a world existed.

No warfare, no hunger, no disasters—everyone living in contentment.

Except, there was no cultural heritage!

"To be precise, the very concept of [war] has been erased!" Nameless responded.

From the very beginning, Qin Shi Huang implemented universal state upbringing, abolishing the family system.

Thereby completely eliminating familial competition and all forms of conflict.

Creating a utopia of absolute peace and happiness without war or turmoil.

But was this truly happiness?

Gazing at the starry night sky, Nameless sighed softly: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."

"It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness."

"It was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity."

"It was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness."

"People were going to heaven, people were going to hell!"

One might say.

This opening passage from A Tale of Two Cities perfectly encapsulated the reality facing all people in Qin.

Seemingly bright, peaceful and happy, yet in truth all were merely livestock in captivity.

Appearing to ascend to heaven, while actually descending into hell.

Humanity's future had already been severed, doomed to extinction!

As these thoughts crossed his mind...

Not far away, the adorable child gazed at the bright moonlight, softly reciting: "I sing, and the moon lingers; I dance, and my shadow scatters..."

This was precisely the poem Jing Ke had taught her earlier.

However.

Standing nearby, Qin Liangyu's expression changed drastically upon hearing these verses.

The scene shifted abruptly.

Once again, they found themselves in the Epang Palace.

Han Xin smiled and asked, "Your Majesty, I wonder if you could replicate and construct that type of vehicle?"

"Haha, joking aside, with my divine-level computational abilities surpassing even the gods, replicating it would be child's play—or so I'd like to say!"

Qin Shi Huang's voice was filled with excitement, like a child who had just received a fascinating new toy. "How on earth was this thing made? It's utterly incredible. Even with my wisdom, it would take a full three days to completely analyze it!"

As the two conversed, Qin Liangyu's projection appeared, reporting, "Your Majesty, this humble servant witnessed a child reciting poetry. Those people from Chaldea dared to teach them such things!"

"Hmm?" Qin Shi Huang showed slight surprise.

"It... it seems undeniable, Your Majesty. Those people are undoubtedly Confucian scholars!"

Han Xin clasped his hands and asked, "Your Majesty, shall we declare war now?"

"No need to rush. Let us confront them directly first. I permit anyone to voice their dissent."

Qin Shi Huang responded thus.

His voice once again poured down from the celestial Great Wall onto the village where Chaldea resided—

[Why have you taught the villagers poetry? Are you lot determined to plunge the world into chaos and destruction?]

"Why do you say that? Weren't you yourself once taught culture by Nameless?" Nameless looked up and asked.

It was just an ordinary poem by Li Bai, yet it had provoked such fury from the other side.

An overwhelming pressure descended, as if the entire world was bearing down upon them.

Everyone present felt a terror so intense it was suffocating.

"Knowledge brings confusion. Imprisoned by unrealistic ambitions, driven to compete with others, only to achieve nothing in the end and resent the entire world."

Qin Shi Huang's voice remained calm and measured. "It is precisely by eliminating such individuals that the Great Qin can endure eternally. It is precisely through ignorance that all people can live in peace and contentment."

Mordred scoffed, "Tch, all this talk just makes it easier for you to rule, doesn't it?"

"Then let me ask you this: in the world you envision where the people are enlightened, has there not been endless war?"

Qin Shi Huang's tone was serene. "Enlightened people will harbor endless desires, which in turn will spawn endless conflict!"

"Your so-called glorious human history is nothing but the wails and lamentations of the masses. The heroic spirits you claim save humanity are merely born from such strife."

"Now, I have ended all of this at its root. Without war, there will be no heroic spirits."

"My Great Qin has no need for heroic spirits! Because I will protect humanity. I will bear the burdens of all people. I am what you call Alaya!"

This earth-shattering declaration left the countless viewers who had been fervently worshipping Qin Shi Huang utterly stunned.

They could scarcely believe their ears—

-[Why deny the people enlightenment? If Nameless hadn't taught you back then, could you have become the First Emperor of a thousand ages?]

-[Damn it, the dragon-slayer has become the dragon! "I am Alaya"—that's just too domineering!]

-[The thing is, I suddenly realize Brother Zheng makes a compelling point, and I don't know how to refute it...]

-[If you were to cut off all cultural enjoyments like movies, anime, games, novels, etc., right now, and just eat and sleep like a pig every day, would you still think what he said makes sense?]

-[Damn, I'd rather die than live like that!]

...

Under the gaze of countless onlookers.

"To establish the heart of Heaven and Earth, to set the destiny of the people, to continue the lost teachings of the sages, and to bring peace to all generations!"

Nameless raised his head toward the sky and shouted, "Without understanding culture, without knowing oneself, living in ignorance day after day—what does it matter even if you exist in eternal peace?"

"You're nothing more than a caged livestock, not even a living human being!"

The retort was sharp to the extreme, devoid of any courtesy.

It made Qin Shi Huang in the heavens fall silent for a brief moment.

The opening words of his opponent reminded him of the teacher who had once instructed him over two thousand years ago.

Unfortunately, he was no longer that weak and ignorant child.

Now, he had grown into the Eternal Sovereign who ruled the world, no longer needing others to protect him—instead, he was the one who safeguarded the entire Great Qin.

"We originally believed that you, who lived through the horrors of endless war, would cherish this world of eternal peace and happiness just as we do," his voice brimmed with disappointment. "Clearly, you do not. You are nothing but a source of calamity, seeking to awaken disaster once more."

"We are the guardian of Great Qin. We will not allow anyone to destroy this peaceful world."

"Then, perish!"

Hum—

The Great Wall of Space encircling the entire Earth erupted with dazzling radiance.

What was once a purely defensive structure now bared its fangs without restraint!

Nameless sighed softly. "Zheng'er, we once stood together to bid farewell to the gods, yet you have now become a deity who dictates the fate of all. Let me awaken the humanity you have lost and teach you one final lesson!"